American School of Lutherie
expert training for luthiers of all levels

 

 

 

 

CONTEMPORARY GUITAR MAKING CONTEMPORARY GUITAR MAKING is a unique five day seminar focused on the principles, directions and techniques that define the practice of modern lutherie.  If you attend only one guitar making class this year,  CONTEMPORARY GUITAR MAKING will have the greatest impact on the quality and depth of your work - whether you are an experienced luthier or just beginning in the craft. September 21 - 25 See Course Description for details.

 

 

HANDS-ON GUITAR MAKING HANDS-ON GUITAR MAKING, an intensive two week  hands-on workshop, is your opportunity to learn the methods and techniques used by today's most creative and successful luthiers.   HANDS-ON GUITAR MAKING provides the perfect setting for you to do your best work and your best learning while building your own fine quality guitar. July 20 - Aug.1     (Steel String) October 19 - 31    (Classical) See Course Description for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMALL SHOP PRODUCTION SMALL SHOP PRODUCTION is a six-day workshop that invites you to take your work to the next level by incorporating the most useful jigs, fixtures and other easily-made devices, dedicated work stations and professional workflow concepts, in ways that suit to your own personal workspace, resources and goals. August 24 - 28 See Course Description for details.

 

 

ADVANCED DESIGN FEATURES ADVANCED DESIGN FEATURES is a new 5-day course where you'll learn to incorporate double tops, laminated rims, removabel and adjustable necks, sound ports, arm-rest bevels, and new high-tech lutherie materials. November 16 - 20 See Course Description for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME TO ASL

Hello, Charles Fox here. Thanks for your interest in ASL. For nearly 40 years I've had the pleasure of teaching the craft of guitar making and giving the best advice I can to folks who are interested in learning it. With so many schools for you to choose among, I've included some advice on finding the best fit for you, below, which I hope will be useful to you.

ASL is the original and longest established school for luthiers in North America. Since 1973 many hundreds of beginning and experienced crafts people have passed through our doors, learning valuable skills and gaining empowering insights into this incredible work. We've introduced the craft to many of today's established luthiers, and guided more experienced builders to new levels of refinement and mastery. Along the way we've developed the basic learning model for this craft and created teaching formats used by guitar making classes everywhere.

ASL specializes in short-term, intensive full-immersion workshops suited to the needs and lives of busy working students - beginners and more experienced guitar makers for whom long-term study is not an option. ASL classes are small groups of like-minded, enthusiastic adults. The environment is collegial and stimulating. We have a good time sharing information, and you'll likely make a friend or two with whom to compare notes as you move forward on your own.

Currently scheduled classes are posted on this page. To keep the rest of our life (guitar production, travel, etc) flexible, we typically set course dates no more than 3-4 months prior to each class. Please check this page periodically for schedule updates.

You'll find details on our classes in our COURSE DESCRIPTIONS section, and answers to most frequently asked questions on our FAQ page. Please email us with any further questions or call us and Denise or I will be happy to talk with you in person.

CHOOSING A SCHOOL

With so many lutherie classes to choose from today, a prospective student needs to explore the field and weigh his/her choices. A good place to start is the comprehensive list of education opportunities at www.luth.org/links/schools. Getting a sense of each program's particular emphasis and strengths is important for finding the best fit for you. I hope what follows is useful to you in that regard.

Every ASL website visitor is interested in learning to practice the guitar maker's craft in the most clear and meaningful way. Because each individual's mix of resources, goals and personality is unique, no single lutherie school or training program can be the best choice for everyone. Some of you are looking for a strong foundation experience to support future self-directed work. Fine. We can help. That's what we do. Some of you are looking to build your dream guitar. Also fine, but not what we do here. Some of you might want to minimize the initial challenge by assembling a kit of premade pafts in a classroom setting in as little as a week or so. Equally fine, and opportunities for this sort of experience are available. Some of you are young folks looking to learn skills to qualify for work in a guitar factory. Such schools exist and are easy to find. For some of you, building a guitar one night a week at a local community college might be just the thing for getting your luthier's feet wet. These and many other approaches to lutherie instruction exist to satisfy each of the many types of students who are drawn to this craft. We want you to make the right choice.

The wild card of any otherwise attractive training program is usually the quality of instruction. Teaching skills don't necessarily come with the title or position. To determine what quality of instruction to expect, you might either talk to a teacher's previous students or visit the school and sit in on a class. You can experience a teacher directly by calling him or her on the phone with your questions (please always be respectful of the value of a craftsman's time). Such a chat should give you a good idea of a teacher's knowledge, style and willingness to helpful, and how well you are likely to work with and learn and from him or her. Beyond all this, a teacher's general reputation and record of accomplishment in the craft is there for you to consider. So, your homework has begun. Define your guitar making wishes nd needs, weigh your options, and find a learning situation that fits your resources, goals, personality and learning style. Wherever you choose to study, we want you to come away from that experience confident that you made the right choice and are solidly prepared to pursue the craft on your own.